“And that’s what Giles has been hiding,” Gunnar said.“That sneaky son of a bitch already spotted the link but didn’t tell us what he was up to.I’ll bet good dollars that Warden knows too, hence the ‘research’ he’s had Giles doing for him.”
“Giles is going to love this latest development,” Bryn said.“But first, I’m going to kill him.”
As if summoned by his name, Giles appeared in the doorway.“Love what?”He took in the room.Bryn was hovering near Emmett.Gunnar was pacing.The room smelled of Chinese food.
“Emmett found the last knife,” Bryn said through gritted teeth.“Something you want to tell us?”
Giles stepped further into the room.“You worked out the postmark correlation.”
“You’d already figured it out, hadn’t you?”Emmett asked.
“I thought it was a possibility.”Giles’ gaze flicked to Bryn.“I think Templeton has been orchestrating the thefts.”
“If I wasn’t feeling like hammered shit, I’d smack you around the head with Emmett’s stapler, Delacourt.”Bryn scowled.“You should have told us straight away.”
Giles shrugged.“It could have turned out to be nothing.What would have been the point of getting you worked up?”
“Oh I call bullshit, Giles.Since when did you develop sensitivities about my feelings?Did Warden make you take a course?”
Emmett squeaked and pulled at his bow tie.Bryn immediately felt contrite.“Sorry, Emmett.I didn’t mean to upset you.Just him.”He glared at Giles.“Now look what you made me do.”
Giles gave a slow smile.
I really, really want to wipe that smile off his smug face.Bryn kept his mouth shut.
“He’s not stealing the knives himself,” Gunnar said.“He’s got people doing it for him.Probably paying them, or promising them something.As soon as the bodies turn up, we’ll find out what they got for their work.”
“The FBI aren’t getting anywhere tracking him down,” Giles continued.“If this is him, and that’s still not certain, maybe this will help them get ahead of him.”
“I’m not holding my breath,” Gunnar said.“He’s not stupid.”
“No, unfortunately he’s not.”Giles turned to Bryn.“How are you feeling, by the way?”
“Like I got hit by a truck driven by a vengeful Russian mobster,” Bryn replied.“But thanks for asking.”
“Good.That means you’re not completely addled by pain medication.”Giles’ tone was brisk.“We need to move on this quickly.If Templeton is collecting ritual daggers, he’s not doing it for scholarly purposes.”
“What’s he going to do when he has all the daggers?”Emmett asked.
“Well, they were designed for human sacrifice,” Giles replied.“The ceremony was meant to be as prolonged and painful as possible.I don’t think we need Bryn to read his intent.”
“Well, that’s horrifying,” Emmett said.
“If I had to make an educated guess,” Giles continued.“I’d say he intends to use the knives on you, Bryn, and he wants your death to be as brutal as possible.”
“Thanks for that, Giles.Makes me feel just great.If Templeton wants to slice me up with ancient knives, I’m not really feeling that plan.”
“Me either,” Gunnar said, a growl rumbling in his throat.
“We have no evidence at the moment, so let’s not jump to conclusions,” Giles said.“I’m going to have to share this latest development with Warden.”
“He’s going to be more than pissed,” Gunnar said.
“Unsanctioned interviews, working in secret… I don’t rate your chances, Giles.”Bryn grinned.
“You still think he didn’t sanction everything?That’s sweet.Of course he knows that you were willing to go behind his back.”
“Fuck my life.Someone kill me now.”
